Loving mother, doting grandmother and great grandmother, Francesca ‘Frances’ Josephina Viscuso (née Padovano) passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 12, 2022. A widow of three years, Frances was predeceased by her devoted husband, Carmelo Joseph Viscuso. She was 89.
Frances was born December 1932 in Brooklyn, NY—the oldest child of Rocco Padovano and Marietta Padovano’s (née Toscano) four daughters. Although it had been decades since she called New York City her home, she always considered herself a New Yorker, channeling the vibrance and culture of the city she was raised in.
It was in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens where she met her husband, ‘Melo’, the two married in May of 1953 and spent the next 64 years together. They raised three children, moving to Long Island then Massachusetts before finally settling in New Jersey in Upper Saddle River then Saddle River with a beach house in Loveladies where she hosted her children and grandchildren all summer long.
Frances was the gravity that pulled her extended family together. From Sunday Dinners to the Seven Fishes, her famous cooking filled countless bellies and her infamous stories filled the table with laughter and memories— times her friends and family will cherish forever.
Like most mothers and grandmothers, she fretted over the little things—like talking to strangers or the disappearance of all her beach towels. However, when it came to real dilemmas, she was a rock for her entire family. She was the matriarch who knew exactly what you should do or who you should call.
Frances loved art and design, earning an AISD Certificate from the New York School of Interior Design in 1981. She was also fond of culture and travel, visiting every continent except Antarctica.
Her later years were spent split between Saddle River, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. then Naples, FL. Constantly active, beyond generous with her time and means, and a member of numerous clubs and auxiliary groups. She lived fully and mentioned how very blessed she was just days before her passing.
Frances is survived by her sister Caroline Sapio; her sister Josephine Paduano and her husband Vincenzo; her sister Marie Colasurdo and her husband Louis; her son John; her daughter Venera Hoerrmann; her daughter Jeanine Arango and her husband Richard; grandson Taylor; grandson Ross and his wife Danielle; granddaughter Giovanna; grandson Kyle Arango and his wife Lori, granddaughter Tara Bier and her husband Daniel; grandson Chad Arango and his wife Lauren; grandson Henry ‘Kipp’ Hoerrmann; and great-grandchildren Grace, Brooks, Paige, Brynn, Callie, and Oliver.
There will be a Visitation on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 2-5pm at Hodges Funeral Home in Naples, FL where we will celebrate Francesca’s life. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 10:30am at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Naples, FL (Livestream link: https://vimeo.com/event/1942500/905fce3103). Following services Frances will be interred next to her husband, Carmelo at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.
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